Staff Reporter:
Commerce, Industries, and Textiles & Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir yesterday said the gov-ernment is moving forward with an integrated and time befitting action plan to revive the country’s in-dustrial sector, ensure market stability, and ensuring the secured supply of essential commodities.
He also said bringing sick and closed industrial units back into operation to boost production and em-ployment is one of the government’s top priorities.
The minister made the remarks while briefing journalists after the fourth session of the second day of the Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital yesterday.
Earlier, an important session was held between the DCs and the ministries of commerce, industries, and textiles & jute, said a press release.
Muktadir said the process of handing over around 50 closed and sick textile and jute mills to the private sector is underway. “This initiative will attract new investment, increase production, and create signifi-cant employment opportunities,” he said, adding that the government aims to complete the process with-in the next year.
Referring to proposals from the deputy commissioners, he said they presented practical and reality-based recommendations reflecting their respective districts.
Among the proposals, there were rejuvenation of industries, creating new industrial zones, re-launching of the closed down sugar mills, and installation of distilleries to enhance further the export potentials.
He assured that the government would consider these proposals with due importance.
Emphasizing structural reforms in market management, the minister said the government plans to intro-duce a modern, technology-driven (AI-based) supply chain monitoring system to reduce the price gap from producers to consumers. “Through this system, it will be possible to monitor intensively import, stock, wholesale and retail level tiers, ensuring transparency and accountability in the market,” he added.
Muktadir further said that to face international market volatility, the government is building strategic reserves for import-dependent commodities. “This initiative will help prevent shortages and maintain price stability in the domestic market even if global supply chains are disrupted,” he said.
Highlighting the role of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the minister said a strong adviso-ry council will be formed, comprising experienced experts from both public and private sectors. “This will make TCB’s market interventions more effective, time befitting and targeted,” he noted.
Regarding the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, Muktadir said a special action plan has been taken to preserve rawhides. “We aim to ensure that not a single rawhide is wasted,” he said.
Muktadir said that through the district and upazila administrations, training would be imparted to people related to mosques and madrasas, supplying salt through government measures, distributing awareness creating leaflets, and conducting campaign in the media.
He also mentioned that transportation of rawhides will be regulated for seven days after Eid to ensure proper local preservation.
Stressing the need for a more proactive role of field administration in maintaining market stability, the minister said, “The administration and the elected government will work together to keep the supply chain functional and protect consumer interests … this is our commitment.”
State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam, along with the secretaries of the respective min-istries, were present at the briefing.
